As an organisation, the NZARH tends not to hold many hard and fast positions – both because our membership, who value free thought, tend to hold a variety of views, and because, as an evidence-based organisation, our position on many topics will change as the evidence for them changes. However the following are some policies or positions that the NZARH has taken on various topics that we are confident the majority of our membership will align well with.
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Humanism
Humanism is a democratic and ethical lifestance which affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. It stands for the building of a more humane society, through an ethics based on human and other natural values, in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through… read more.
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Rationalism
Rationalism A rationalist believes that knowledge and truth are ascertained by using reason and logic, and not by divine or supernatural revelation. While the term atheist conveys meaning with more people (but is often misinterpreted) than rationalist, it is only stating a lack of a belief. Our members do believe in something. They believe that… read more.
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Secularism
The NZARH strongly believes that government should be secular; that is dealing with the issues of this world rather than following a religious agenda. Our law should not give one set of beliefs privilege over another and the state should treat religious organisations the same as any other organisation. The rights of freedom of belief… read more.
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Morality
“How should we live?” is a question that both secular and religious philosophers have provided many different answers to. Members of the NZARH believe that this question is best answered by a secular humanist approach that examines and thinks about what will best serve humanity in the real world. The Golden Rule So where does… read more.
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Naturalism
Naturalism Members of the NZARH hold a naturalistic world-view. They believe that everything arises from natural properties and causes, and that supernatural explanations can safely be rejected. Both science and religion try to make sense of our world but in fundamentally opposing ways. Science uses observation and experimentation to systematically study the structure and behaviour… read more.